Detroit Film Theatre

JULIE DASH PRESENTS: THE COOL WORLD

Saturday, April 20, 2013

3:00 PM Detroit Film Theatre

(USA/1964—directed by Shirley Clarke)

Filmmaker Shirley Clarke (Ornette: Made in America) directed this powerful, documentary-style look at 1964 Harlem ghetto life – a world filled with drugs, violence, and above all the deep despair that permeates those touched by racism in American society. A fifteen-year-old boy called Duke (the only screen appearance by Hampton Clanton) is anxious to buy a gun from a neighborhood lowlife (Carl Lee), setting his sights on taking over the gang to which he belongs. Also featuring Clarence Williams III, The Cool World is a pioneering example of the use of verité filmmaking techniques used to enhance the power of scripted material. Adapted by Clarke and Carl Lee from a play by Warren Miller and Robert Rossen (The Hustler), The Cool World was produced by documentary filmmaking legend Frederick Wiseman (Crazy Horse, The Titicut Follies, La Danse). Introduced in person by Julie Dash. (105 min.)